Vollenhovia karimalaensis Dhadwal, Rilta & Bharti, 2023

Akbar, Shahid Ali, Bharti, Himender, Schifani, Enrico & Wachkoo, Aijaz Ahmad, 2023, Overview of the ant genus Vollenhovia (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in India and Sri Lanka, with an illustrated key and the description of a new species, European Journal of Taxonomy 908, pp. 77-107 : 84

Vollenhovia karimalaensis Dhadwal, Rilta & Bharti, 2023

Fig. 4

Vollenhovia karimalensis Dhadwal, Rilta & Bharti, 2023: 2 .

Type locality: India, Kerala, Parambikulum Tiger Reserve, Karimala [Holotype: PUAC, type series examined].

Worker measurements & indices (3 specimens, 1 colony, 1 locality)

CL 0.76–0.82, CW 0.69–0.78, CS 0.72–0.80, EL 0.12–0.14, ML 0.99–1.12, PEH 0.26–0.30, PEL 0.30– 0.33, PEW 0.24–0.26, PPH 0.24–0.28, PPL 0.30–0.45, PPW 0.27–0.32, PW 0.50–0.58, SL 0.45–0.48. Indices: CL/CW 1.05–1.11, EL/CS 0.16–0.18, ML/CS 1.36–1.40, PEH/CS 0.36–0.37, PEL/CS 0.41– 0.42, PEW/CS 0.31–0.33, PPH/CS 0.33–0.35, PPL/CS 0.39–0.56, PPW/CS 0.35–0.40, PW/CS 0.69– 0.72, SL/CS 0.60–063.

Remarks

Vollenhovia karimalaensis is a recently described taxon that appears most similar to V. keralensis , the two species being both known from the Western Ghats and having similar features including the convex anterior clypeal margin with a median tooth. According to Dhadwal et al. (2023), its distinction from V. keralensis can be based on the head distinctly longer than broad (shorter in V. keralensis ), the mandibles having seven teeth instead of eight, the different shape of the subpetiolar process, and the whole body being finely punctate instead of foveate.

Distribution

India (Kerala) ( Dhadwal et al. 2023).

Figures

Fig. 4. Vollenhovia karimalaensis Dhadwal, Rilta & Bharti, 2023, holotype worker from India (PUAC T701, photographer: Himender Bharti). A. Head, full face view. B. Habitus, lateral view. C. Habitus, dorsal view. D. Type locality.